The Graybeards – KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

Looking for...
Tell us about your plans
There are many fine veterans organizations that are working on
reunions and group trips to attend the commemoration events that
will be held in Korea. Though we cannot organize reunions or group
trips ourselves, we can help spread the word about your plans. Please
let us know the “who, what, when, where” on your reunion or group
trip and we can list the basics on our web site. Please provide a point
of contact for the event, so that other veterans know who to contact.
If your veterans group has a section on a web site involving a
reunion or group trip, you can provide that information also. Since
we are a government agency, we cannot recommend any commercial
agencies, so we cannot list “Mary’s Military Tours of Korea,
Incorporated,” etc. Please email the information to:
Our regular mailing address is:
50th AKWC, PSC 303 Box 90, APO AP 96204.
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I am an active-duty infantry officer currently pursuing a Ph.D. in
military history. I’m researching the training activities conducted by
Eighth Army in Japan from mid-1949 until the outbreak of war,
and would like to hear from veterans of the Occupation and early
weeks of the war regarding their opinion of training in Japan—was
it realistic, did it prepare them individually or as a unit for combat,
etc. My intent in writing is to correct the distortions that have arisen
over the years regarding the American soldier in 1950. My research
thus far indicates that the average soldier spent the majority of his
time training on his wartime mission—a conclusion backed up by
several veteran interviews. I would welcome information from any
veteran who served in the Eighth Army at any time between 1948
and 1950. Contact Thomas Hanson, Captain, United States Army at
e-mail address
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I am Shorty Estabrook, Founder of the Tiger Survivors, a group
of former POWs in Korea. I was with B/19/24 from June 1948 until
16 July 1950 when I was captured. I saw freedom on 29 August
1953. Anyone who was with the 21st Inf. Regt., 24th Div. and who
was awarded the Army Occupation Medal, Japan, are requested to
send a copy of your orders to Shorty Estabrook, 23816 Matador
Way, Murrieta California 92562. The Next of Kin of Ralph
McKinley, K/21/24 who was in Japan and then went to Korea and
was captured and died as a Prisoner of War has requested his medals
but Department of the Army said he was not authorized the
Occupation medal. In fact the letter says that the 21st Regt., 24th
Div. was never authorized that medal. This is not true as you know
but now we have to build a case so this family can get the long overdue
medal.
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I am writing a book about the battle of Triangle Hill (Operation
Showdown) and the U. S. soldiers engaged in that and related battles
along the MLR in Korea during 1952 and 1953. My father, now
deceased, was in the 31st Regt. and fought and was wounded in the
battle. I have been working on the book for the past 18 months. In
addition to extensive documentary research in the US and Korea, I
have been interviewing veterans of the battle and those who were in
the service during that period. To date, I have interviewed or corre-
sponded with over 100 veterans of the battle. The battle was fought
by elements of the 7th US Inf. Div. and the 5th USAF. I encourage
any veterans who have knowledge of this battle and the other hill
battles during Oct.-Nov., 1952 to contact Kevin Quinn, 310
Sportsmans Hall Rd., Queenstown, MD 21658. Work: (410) 267-
8811, Fax (410) 267-8235, Mobile (410) 456-2376 or email
.
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My father Max Roger Westbrook was a veteran of the Korean
War. He died on July 25, 2002. I’m trying to help my mother notify
people who were important in his life and we are looking for some
way to notify people who knew him during the War. Contact Lynn
Westbrook at E-mail address
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My dad is a veteran of the Korean war. During his time in Korea,
he spent some of his service in the special services department.
While at the K-2 AFB in Taegu, Korea, my dad helped to open the
first hobby shop in Korea, located on the base. One of the popular
magazines in America did a story about it, and my dad was part of
the picture on the cover. Being only 19 years old at the time, he wasn’t
all that impressed with his new popularity, and bought one copy
of the magazine, sent it to his mother, and hasn’t really thought about
it since - in fact, he doesn’t even remember which magazine it was.
My grandmother has long since passed away, and I’ve never seen the
magazine. I’ve tried to locate it through several libraries, without
luck. I’ve contacted a local VA representative, but he was not able to
help me. I was hoping that since the hobby shop was on the base, and
my dad was in the service when the story was written, that the magazine
would have had to get permission from the Air Force to do the
story, and their would be some kind of paperwork for it somewhere.
Contact Kristen McTigue at e-mail address
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I am a new member of the KWVA and served in Korea. I have
been searching for a buddy of mine Robert E Carlson. He was from
Rockford, IL. He served with me in the 67th Communications Sqdn.
K14 Kimpo in 1954. Contact Don Christine, Tel: 727-859-0336 or
e-mail .
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I would like to hear from those who served with me in
Headquarters Company, 32d Quartermaster Group, in Pusan,
Korea in 1953 and 1954. Some names include Sgt. Maj. Ken
Garland, Bill Lockwood, Floyd May, Dwight Rhamy, Earl Booth,
Marland Armstrong, Jack Roth, Joseph Yuhas, and T.J. Simons.
Contact Gerald Washburn, 2986 Emerald Chase Drive, Herndon,
VA 20171. or e-mail .
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I am looking for information on my company that I was with in
Korea. My unit was Co. K, 32nd Regt., 7th Inf. Div. The dates
would be April 1953, Pork Chop Hill battle. Contact Dan Lucas at
E-mail address .
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I’m trying to help a friend find someone he was in Korea with.
His name is William R. Luke, maybe from Muscogee Co., Ga.
Page 56 The Graybeards